Tick filling machines



June 1957 LE ROY E. MOULTHROP 2,794,454

TICK FILLING MACHINES Filed June 16, 1955 i 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ll ll l r 7 8? 7 I 47/ o n I .IV 85 r I 6 83 L INVENIOR I LE ROY 5. Mou/ HRoP ATTORNEY June 4, 1957 LE ROY E. MOULTHROP 2,794,454

TICK FILLING MACHINES Filed June 16, 1955 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR LE ROY E. MOULTHROP ATTORNEY United Stats The present invention relates to tick filling machines, and more particularly to machines designed to sterilize and fluff feathers and to insert them in an air-permeable bag such as a mattress tick or pillow tick.

Heretofore, the art has endeavored to provide apparatus for processing feathers and inserting them into ticks. Ordinarily, the processing prior to insertion in the tick includes two operations: flufling the feathers, that is to say, separating the feathers that have become matte-d together and agitating the feathers sufficiently to destroy the cohesion between the various parts thereof and render the feathers light and fluffy; and sterilizing the feathers so as to destroy the bacteria thereon. Although the art consumes a great quantity of new feathers, that is to say feathers that have been recently plucked from fowl, it should nevertheless be borne in mind that by far'the greater part of the feathers handled in this way are used feathers, that is to say, feathers that have been previously used to fill a tick. In either case, the feathers must be sterilized and fluffed before insertion in a new tick or a used tick. In the case of used feathers, the owner of an old tick will submit it to a processor, who will open the old tick, remove the feathers, sterilize and flufi them, and insert them either in a new tick of the same or a differentsize, or in the old tick which has in the meantime been cleaned. Whichever course of action the processor follows, the owner ultimately receives a clean tick filled with fluffed and sterilized feathers.

In an effort to carry out the above process satisfactorily, it has been proposed to remove the used feathers from the tick and place them in containers provided with beaters that would violently agitate the feathers after the manner of an egg beater. The feathers would besubjected to a chemical treatment for sterilization, either before being placed in the agitator or after being removed from the agitator. removal from the agitator, the feathers would be fed into a clean tick. However, this method of processing and the apparatus used to perform it suffered from the great disadvantages that the feathers were often pulverized during agitation, with the result that they tended much more readily to mat in use. Moreover, a great quantity of fine particles were broken loose from the feathers during the beating, with the result that the air became dust-laden with these particles to thegreat discomfort of workmen in the processing plant. Moreover, the light and may nature of the feathers made them extremely ditficult to handle and to move from the heater to the filling device.

In an effort to facilitate the handling of the feathers, itwas proposed to provide a filling chamber equipped with means for inducing a vacuum in the chamber, so that feathers fed into a'tick in the chamber would be drawn intothe tick, thus eliminating aportion of'the difiiculty of handling the feathers. However, the other problems of handling the feathers, controlling the feather dust and preventing pulverization of the feathers remained. Although many attempts were made to overcome the Then, as a final step after atent foregoing difliculties and other disadvantages, none, as far as I am aware, was entirely successful when carried into practice commercially on an industrial scale.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tick filling machine in which new or used feathers may be gently flutfed without pulverization.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tick filling machine adapted to prevent the formation or escape of feather dust to the outside air.

The invention also contemplates providing a tick filling machine in which fiufling and sterilization of the feathers are performed in a single operation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a tick filling machine in which all the operations of processing and filling are performed continuously and automatically.

Finally, the invention further contemplates providing a tick filling machine which will be relatively simple and inexpensive in construction, and yet will be rugged, dependable and safe in operation.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a tick filling machine according to my invention, with parts broken away more clearly to illustrate the function and structure of the device;

Figure 2 depicts a rear perspective view of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a front elevational view of the sterilizing chamber with parts broken away; and

Figure 4 illustrates in perspective the rotary conveyor mounted in the sterilizing chamber.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, I have shown in Figure 1 a front perspective view of a tick filling machine 1, the major components of which are a hopper 3, a generally cylindrical sterilizing chamber 5 in which the feathers are fluffed and sterilized, the cylindrical axis of which is disposed horizontally, and a tick filling chamber 7 in which clean ticks receive processed feathers.

Hopper 3 will be seen to be made up of four side walls 9 which are downwardly inclined inwardly so as to receive and retain feathers fed to the hopper and direct them downwardly toward reduced bottom portion 11 of hopper 3. Mounted in portion 11 for rotation is a rotary impeller 13 comprising a shaft 15 on which are mounted impeller blades 16. Shaft 15 is provided at its rear end with a pulley 17 and is rotatably mounted on pillow blocks 18 disposed between pulley 17 and portion 11 of hopper 3.

Chamber 5 communicates with hopper 3 through a first opening 19 extending from front to rear of cylindrical side wall 21 of the chamber. Chamber 5 is provided with a flat rear wall 23 and a flat front wall 25 comprising a circular frame mounted for outward swinging movement in a horizontal plane on hinges 29 and releasably held in closed position by latch 31. The greatest portion of the area of front wall 25 is comprised of a large circular window 32 of glass or other hard, transparent material. Cylindrical side wall 21 is also provided with a second opening 33 extending from front to rear thereof and closed by a pivotally mounted gate 35 which is normally gravity biased to open position but which may be closed by a lever 37 upon depression of foot pedal 39.

Tick filling chamber 7 comprises a closed cabinet 41 having a front door 43 mounted on hinges 45 for outward swinging movement in a horizontal plane and a catch 47 releasably holding door 43 in closed position. The door comprises a rectangular frame 49 in which is mounted a large rectangular Window 51 of glass or other hard, transparent material.

Patented June 4, 1957 Mounted atoptick filling chamber 7 and in communication with the interior thereof is a means for inducing a vacuum in the tick filling chamber comprising an exhaust fan 53, which mayforle-xample be a 10inchsquirrel cage fan driven by a 1 horsepower motor of 3450 rev-olutions per minute.

.A duct 55 communicates between second opening 33 and the interior of cabinet 4-1 and terminates within cabinet 41 in an upwardlyextending'openterminal-end 57 I over which atick 59 is adaptedto-be drawn-and held by resilient clamps. 6.1. Operating rods 63 and depressible foot pedal 65 may be provided forselectively releasing clamps v61; or anyother well known means for retaining tick 59 about terminal end 57 may be provided.

Mounted for rotation in chamber S .is-a rotary eonveyor 67, the structure of which can be best seen in Figures 3nd 4. Conveyor 67 comprises a rotor having a central shaft 69 hearing a-pulley '70 at-itsre'ar-end and rotatably mountedin pillow block assembly 71 mounted behind rear wall 23. The rotor-comprises -a.plurality of radial arms 73 mounted on-shaft69'immediately infront of rear wall 23, these arms bearing-at their outer ends impeller-arms 75 parallelto and adjacent-cylindrical side wall 21 .ofchamber 5. The rotor is mounted coaxially of cylindrical chamber 5, and impeller :arms 75 are parallel. to shaft 69. Arms 75 extend substantially full width 'ofchamber from front .to rear thereof and bear throughout their length-radially disposed brush bristles 7-7. Bar 79 is mounted on a radial arm 73' outwardly of and parallel to the axis of rotationofrotary conveyor '67 and extends substantially full width of the chamber 5 from front to rear thereof. Bar -7 9'-car-ries at "its forward end a wiper 81 of rubber or otherideformable material which is in contact over substantially its full length with the inside surface of circular window.32.

The main drive of the machine is supplied by an-electric motor 83 mounted beneath rectangular frame 85 mounted on the rearof the machine, as best shown in Figure 2. Mounted .on the upper side of frame 85 is pillow block assembly 7.1 of rotary conveyor'67 and pillow block assembly 87 of reduction pulley assembly 89. Motor 83 :is provided With a conventional drive shaft (not shown) from which extends a first drive belt 9 1 to reduction pulley assembly. 89. A second drive belt 93 connects the smaller pulley of reduction pulley assembly 89 with pulley '70 of rotary conveyor .67. In this way,

the rotary movement of the motor drive shaft is tr-ans-' mitted, to-rotary conveyor 67 .at a greatly reduced speed but with a greatly increased torque. A third drive belt 95 connects the rnotordrive shaft :with pulley 117 for the purposeof turning rotary impeller 13. From .the belt and pulley arrangement shown in Figure 2, 'it will be clear that rotary conveyor 67 and impeller 13 rotate in the same direction.

A plurality of-sterilizing lamps 97 provided with ballast and reflectors 99 are mounted in chamber 5 adjacent the top thereof. These sterilizing lamps may for example be the 14 inch germicidal ultraviolet ray tubes manufactured by the Westinghouse Electric Company. In addition, sterilizing lamps 101 may be mounted in the inside corners of cabinet 41, and may for example be 20 inch Westinghouse tubes 'of'the type described above. Mounted on the side of cabinet .41 is a switch control box 163 from which the operation'of fan 53, motor .83, and sterilizing lamps 97 and 1&1 is controlled.

The operation of my novel tick filling machine is as follows; t

Door 43 is opened and a clean tick 59 clamped on the terminal end 57 of duct 55 within cabinet .41 For this purpose, the clean tick may be sewed up completely except for an opening about 6 inches'in length. Feathers to be sterilized and fluifed are then dumped into hopper 3 through the open end thereof and come to rest cu reduced bottom portion 11 about impeller 13. Fan 53 and motor 83 as well as lamps 97 and 101 are then turned on, the faninducing a-vacuum in tick-fillingchamber 7- and the motor causing rotary conveyor '67 and impeller 13 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figure 1. Feathers in hopper 3 are thus moved through first opening 19 by impeller 13 and enter chamber 5 at the left thereof, as seen in Figure 3. The rotating brushes comprised of impeller arms 75 and brush bristles 77 move the feathers along the lowerportion of cylindrical side wall 21 and also tumble and agitate the feathers in chamber 5 so as to fluff them without pulverizing them. Finally, the feathers are discharged through second opening 33. It will be noted thatfirst opening 19 and second opening 33 are disposed on opposite sides of the vertical plane which includes the axis of rotation of rotary conveyor 67, with the result that the feathers are moved from the former toward the latter.

While in chamber 5 the feathers are being subjected to the germicidal effect of .the sterilizing :lamp 197, The location of theselarnps inchambep-Sissuch astoi-nsure that :the feathers therein and passing ith'erethrough will at all times be subjected ;to the germicidal :effectof the lamps. Moreover, :thegentle tumbling moti'on imparted to thefeathers by the brushes insures thatnll portions of the feathers will .be subjected to the .rays from the lamps. It shouldalso-be.noted,that:the.lamps are so located in the chamber as to insure that the same .wilLnot fbecome clo ged With feathers. Moreover, it will -be1noted that brush bristles 77 brush across the lamps whenaradial arm 73 is at its uppermost position, as seen in Figure :3. This brushing movement across the .lamps serves .tolkeep them free of feather dust andmaintain their germicidal effect ata maximum.

At .the same. time, wiper :81 isv revolving :with rotaryconveyor '67 and .keeping :the inside surface of window, 32 ,free from feathers and featherdust so :that tthe interior of chambers may beinspected .at .any :time from the outside'without openingthe door of theschamber-comprisingtfront wall,25. 'In thisconnection, sit-is important to note that vWiper 8-1 mountedteccentric'ally of :rotary conveyor ,67 and at no ;point overlies the axisof rotation of the conveyor, with the result that all portionsof wiper 8:1.enjoy linear movement relative ito the interior-surface ofwindow 3-2 and there .is .no central dead spot-at which the .featherscan. collect betweenthe wiperandtthe window.

The feathers are .allowedtoremainin chamber S'for a sufiicient periodpf'time totfluff and sterilize the-same after which foot pedal 39 may be depressed to-open gate 35' and allow exit of the feathers fromchamberS.

Exhaust fan :53 induces a vacuum -in tick filling chamber 7, which is olosediexceptthrough duct 55. Thus,

feathers .adjacent second opening-'33 are sucked into duct' 55 and-up into tick 59- in=c hamber-- 7, which'soonbecomes filled with a mixture .of feathers entrainedin air. The air issucked through the air-pervi'ous material of thetick, but thefeathers are left behiud,.soon filling the tick. The air separated from the feathers is exhallstedto theoutside through fan 53, and ,hasjbeen found to be substantially free of feather dust. Lamps :101 in the corners .of cabinet 41 provide an additional sterili ing .efiect vonthe tick itself, andto some extentonthe feathers in :the tick. Th ac ne m y the er d 0i a t e fil e tick emo ed n c mp el s n- .1a

-It will thus be seen that I haveiprovided a tick filling machine accomplishing all the obiec.ts of my invention.

For purposes of this application, the word tick isdefined as tconnoting' -a .flexible container adapted to receive feathers and the like, the side walls of which .are airpervious. v

Although the present invention has been 'describedin conjunction with preferred embodiments, it is to he understood that modifications and variations may here: a t i hout pa ng f om. the midi andjs npe. .o;f h n ent on a hos skil ed. in he ar read y understand. 'Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the invention and appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for filling ticks with feathers, which comprises in combination a cylindrical chamber having a pair of spaced openings therethrough and a transparent window in a fiat wall thereof, one of said openings serving for the introduction of feathers into said chamber, a tick filling chamber communicating with said cylindrical chamber through the other of said openings, and a rotary conveyor mounted for rotation in said cylindrical chamber coaxially thereof for moving feathers from said one opening, through said cylindrical chamber, to said other opening thereby to permit discharge of said feathers to said filling chamber, said conveyor comprising a rotor having a plurality of impeller arms adjacent the cylindrical wall and substantially parallel to the axis of said cylindrical chamber, said rotor also having an elongated wiper mounted eccentrically thereon and parallel to said fiat wall and contacting said window for cleaning feathers from the inner surface of said window.

2. A machine for filling ticks with feathers, which comprises in combination a cylindrical chamber having a cylindrical wall having a horizontal axis and a pair of spaced openings through said wall, one of said openings serving for the introduction of feathers into said chamber, a tick filling chamber communicating with said cylindrical chamber through the other of said openings, both of said openings being disposed below a horizontal plane including said axis, said openings being disposed on opposite sides of a vertical plane including said axis, sterilizing lamp means mounted in said cylindrical chamber adjacent and disposed transversely of said cylindrical wall above said horizontal plane, and a rotary conveyor mounted for rotation in said cylindrical chamber coaxially thereof for moving feathers from said one opening, through said cylindrical chamber along a lower portion of said cylindrical wall thereof, to said other opening thereby to permit discharge of said feathers to said filling chambers, said conveyor comprising a rotor having a plurality of impeller arms adjacent said cylindrical wall and substantially parallel to said axis of said cylindrical chamber, said impeller arms having brush means thereon, said brush means contacting said sterilizing lamp means when said impeller arms and lamp means are juxtaposed, thereby to clean feathers from said lamp means.

3. A machine for filling ticks with feathers, which comprises in combination a cylindrical chamber having a cylindrical wall having a horizontal axis and a pair of spaced openings through said wall, one of said openings serving for the introduction of feathers into said chamber, a tick filling chamber communicating with said cylindrical chamber through the other of said openings, said openings being disposed on opposite sides of a vertical plane including said axis, sterlizing lamp means mounted in said cylindrical chamber adjacent said cylindrical wall, and a rotary conveyor mounted for rotation in said cylindrical chamber coaxially thereof for moving feathers from said one opening, through said cylindrical chamber, to said other opening thereby to permit discharge of said feathers to said filling chamber, said conveyor comprising a rotor having a plurality of impeller arms adjacent said cylindrical wall and substantially parallel to said axis of said cylindrical chamber, said impeller arms having brush means thereon, said brush means contacting said sterilizing lamp means when said impeller arms and lamp means are juxtaposed, thereby to clean feathers from said lamp means.

4. A machine for filling ticks with feathers, which comprises in combination a cylindrical chamber having a cylindrical wall having a horizontal axis and a pair of spaced openings through said wall, one of said openings serving for the introduction of feathers into said chamber, a tick filling chamber communicating with said cylindrical chamber through the other of said openings, said openings being disposed on opposite sides of a vertical plane including said axis, sterilizing lamp means mounted in said cylindrical chamber adjacent said cylindrical wall, and a rotary conveyor mounted for rotation in said cylindrical chamber coaxially thereof for moving feathers from said one opening, through said cylindrical chamber, to said other opening thereby to permit discharge of said feathers to said filling chamber, said conveyor comprising a rotor having a plurality of impeller arms adjacent said cylindrical Wall and substantially parallel to said axis of said cylindrical chamber, whereby feathers in said cylindrical chamber are exposed to radiations from said sterilizing lamp means which pass between said impeller arms.

5. A machine for filling ticks with feathers, which comprises in combination a cylindrical chamber having a cylindrical wall having a horizontal axis and a pair of spaced openings through said wall, one of said openings serving for the introduction of feathers into said chamber, a tick filling chamber communicating with said cylindrical chamber through the other of said openings, said other opening being disposed below a horizontal plane including said axis, said openings being disposed on opposite sides of a vertical plane including said axis, a rotary conveyor mounted for rotation in said cylindrical chamber coaxially thereof for moving feathers from said one opening through said cylindrical chamber to said other opening, said conveyor comprising a rotor having a plurality of impeller arms adjacent said cylindrical wall and substantially parallel to said axis of said cylindrical chamber, a duct surrounding said other opening and communicating with the interior of said filling chamber through a third opening in the bottom of said filling chamber, and means for exhausting air from said filling chamber, said cylindrical chamber and filling chamber being sealed from entry of outside air other than through said one opening, whereby said exhausting means draws air through said one opening, between said impeller arms, through said other opening and said duct and said third opening and into and through a tick in said filling chamber, and feathers in said cylindrical chamber adjacent said other opening are entrained in said air and drawn through said other opening and duct and third opening and up into a said tick.

6. The invention of claim 5, and sterilizing lamp means mounted in said cylindrical chamber adjacent and disposed transversely of said cylindrical wall and between said cylindrical wall and said impeller arms.

7. A machine for filling ticks with feathers, which comprises in combination a cylindrical chamber having a cylindrical wall having a horizontal axis and a pair of spaced openings through said wall, one of said openings serving for the introduction of feathers into said chamber, a tick filling chamber communicating with said cylindrical chamber through the outer of said openings, said other opening being disposed below a horizontal plane including said axis, said openings being disposed on opposite sides of a vertical plane including said axis, a rotary conveyor mounted for rotation in said cylindrical chamber coaxially thereof for moving feathers from said one opening through said cylindrical chamber to said other opening, said conveyor comprising a rotor having a -plurality of impeller arms adjacent said cylindrical wall and substantially parallel to said axis of said cylindrical chamber, a duct surrounding said other opening and communicating with the interior of said filling chamber through a third opening in the bottom of said filling chamber, and means for exhausting air from said filling chamber, said cylindrical chamber and filling chamber being sealed from entry of outside air other than through said one opening.

8. The invention of claim 7, and sterilizing lamp means mounted in said cylindrical chamber adjacent said cylindrical wall and between said cylindrical wall and said impeller arms.

9. A machine for filling ticks with feathers, which comthrough a third openingin the 'bottom of said filling chamberg and means for exhausting air from said Ifilling chamber, said first chamber and 'filling charnber being sealedfrom entry of outside air other than through ,said one opening, whereby :said eXhausting ,means draws air through said oneo pening between said r-irnpeller warms,

through said other opening and saidd'uct andsaid opening and into and through a"tik"in-said-fi11ing. chamber,,and feathers in said first c harnber adjacent saidother opening are entrained insa'id a'rr'anddrawn through said other opening :and ductand third'opening and up *into'a said tiek. i w 7 10.1116 invention of claim 9, -and sterilizing lamp' means mounted in said-first chamber between 'a side of said first chamber and saidimpeller arms.

Referenees-Gited in the file of this patent UNITED ATES PATENTS 1,140,867 Bates r ..May 125,, 1-915 2,352,315 .Sehultze Nov. 7, 3194.4 2,452,935 :Kemp .-Nov. :2, 1948 2,574,848

Schroeder r v Nov. .13, 119.51 

